NATIONAL NEWS

Third Indian City to Adopt an Air Quality Early Warning System

• Kolkata became the third Indian city to adopt the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) to combat rising air pollution.

• The system, developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, aims to address rising air pollution levels in urban areas.

• AQEWS in Kolkata uses an advanced sensor network to provide real-time monitoring of the Air Quality Index (AQI).

• AQI is a standardized measure of the level of air pollution, with a value ranging from 0 to 500.

• The system focuses on PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller) levels, which is a major contributor to health problems due to its ability to enter the lungs.

CBDT launches a Revamped National Website of the Income Tax Department

• The Income Tax Department has revamped its National website www.incometaxindia.gov.in with a user-friendly interface, value-added features, and new modules.
• The newly revamped website was launched by Shri. Nitin Gupta, Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)), at the ‘Chintan Shivir’, organised by the Directorate of Income Tax (Systems) at Udaipur.
• This website serves as a comprehensive repository of tax and other related information.
• It provides access to Direct Tax laws, several other Allied Acts, Rules, Income Tax Circulars and Notifications, all cross-referenced and hyperlinked.
• The site also offers a ‘Taxpayer Services Module’ featuring various tax tools to assist taxpayers in filing their income tax returns.
• The revamped website has been aesthetically redesigned with a mobile-responsive layout.
• The website also has a ‘Mega Menu’ for content, with new features, and functionalities.
• For the convenience of the visitors to the website, all these new additions are explained through a guided virtual tour and new button indicators.

Telangana Government Partners with UNESCO

• The Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C) Department of the Government of Telangana has joined hands with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to implement the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by signing a Letter of Intent to drive efforts and action.

• The collaboration focuses on promoting the ethical development and use of AI awareness raising, capacity building, and contributions to UNESCO‘s Global Observatory on AI Ethics.

• The partnership enables a shared commitment to an AI-powered future that prioritizes societal good and equitable development.

BANKING

Punjab National Bank Inaugurates PNB Pensioner’s Lounge

• On World Senior Citizens Day (Aug 21, 2023), Punjab National Bank (PNB), the nation’s leading public sector bank, has introduced the ‘Pensioner’s Lounge’, a dedicated space within the branch that serves pensioners and senior citizens with all their banking needs.

• It is to provide a specialised and comfortable space for pensioners and senior citizens, offering comprehensive banking services.

• The lounge offers a wide range of banking services tailored to the requirements of pensioners and senior citizens.

• It aims to provide a seamless and convenient banking experience, addressing their unique needs.

• The Pensioner’s Lounge is currently available across 11 locations, including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Shimla, and Varanasi.

BoB Introduces Video Re-KYC Service

• Bank of Baroda (BoB), a state-owned bank, has launched the ‘Video Re-KYC’ service to simplify the periodic update of customer identity documents.
• This service allows individual resident customers to update their ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) details without needing to visit a physical branch.
• It is to avail the Video KYC facility, customers must be Indian residents, above 18 years of age and must have their Aadhaar number and original PAN Card.
• Customers are verified through video calls, ensuring their identity and KYC documents’ accuracy.
• Video Re-KYC aligns with the increasing digitalization in banking services.
• It reduces the need for customers to physically visit branches and saving time.

SPORTS

Dutch Grand Prix 2023

• Max Verstappen took his third consecutive win at the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands.

• Max Verstappen's victory equaled Sebastian Vettel's record of nine consecutive F1 victories.

• Fernando Alonso secured a podium position by coming in second.

• Sergio Pérez, driving for Red Bull, initially finished third, but a five-second penalty resulted in Pierre Gasly taking third place on the podium.

• Dutch Grand Prix also known as the ‘Grote Prij van Nederland’, is an annual event of the Formula One World Championship.

World Athletics Championships

• Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the first gold medal for India at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
• In the men's javelin final, Neeraj Chopra won the Gold medal with a throw of 88.17 meters.
• Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem won the silver medal in the men's javelin throw event with a throw of 87.82 metres.
• Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic won the bronze medal in the same event.

AWARDS & PRIZES

National Award for e-Governance 2023

• In the 26th National Conference on e-Governance 2023, the National Award was given to the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

• The objective of the SVAMITVA scheme is to survey the population of villages, map rural areas with advanced technology, and provide ownership rights of property to individuals living in rural areas.

• State-of-the-art technologies such as drones and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used for this initiative.

• Property cards have been created, which enable rural property owners to leverage their property for financial benefits.
• The National Award for e-Governance was given in the category ‘Application of emerging technology for providing citizen-centric services’.
• It recognizes the innovative use of technology in the scheme to provide services that directly benefit citizens.
• The 26th NCeG was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and jointly organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The theme was ‘Developing India, Empowering Citizens’ with a focus on advanced technologies and effective e-governance strategies.

DEFENCE

Indian Navy Participates in 5th 'AUSINDEX-23'

• From 22 August to 25 August 2023, the 5th edition of the biennial AUSINDEX maritime exercise occurred in Sydney, Australia.

• It was conducted collaboratively by the Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.

• The participating ships included INS Sahyadri, INS Kolkata from the Indian Navy, and HMAS Choules and HMAS Brisbane from RAN

• The exercise not only involved ships and their helicopters but also fighter aircraft and maritime patrol aircraft.

• Over the course of 4 days, AUSINDEX involved a series of complex exercises covering all three maritime operational domains.

Exercise Bright Star-23

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise Bright Star-23 held at Cairo Air Base in Egypt.

• Bright Star-23 exercise will take place from 27 August to 16 September 2023.

• The participating countries in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise Bright Star-23 include the United States, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Qatar, and India.

• IAF transport aircraft will airlift around 150 Indian Army personnel.

• The main goal of the exercise is to enhance joint operational planning and execution.

• India and Egypt have long-standing ties, having collaborated on aero-engine and aircraft development in the 1960s.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Book on AAI Airports’ Terminal Building Architecture

• Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia released a coffee table book on traditional and local architecture of various terminal buildings at AAI airports.

• The book showcases the facade of terminal buildings at 19 Senior civil aviation ministry officials and heads of AAI, DGCA, and BCAS, among others were present at the launch of the book titled ‘Traditional and Local Architecture on Elevation and Design of Upcoming New Terminal Buildings’ in the national capital.

• For the new buildings being constructed, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) makes conscious efforts to bring in the local architecture and culture in the facade and interiors, AAI Chairman Sanjeev Kumar said before the release of the book.

• The airport terminal building orchestrates the seamless transition between aircraft and ground transportation, serving as a conduit for the various services associated with air travel.

• A terminal becomes a gateway that shapes visitors’ initial impressions of a city.
• They are no longer just simple structures of convenience and have to be seen as landmarks of the city, as marvels, which welcome visitors to the city and inspire a feeling of awe and wonder in travellers.

OBITUTARY

Veteran Bollywood Lyricist Dev Kohli

• Renowned lyricist and poet Dev Kohli Passed away at the age of 80 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• From Shankar-Jaikishan to Vishal-Shekhar, he worked with different generations of composers in a career that spanned from 1969 to 2013

• He penned hundreds of songs in Bollywood films and wrote many hit songs such as Maaye Ni Maaye, Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen, Geet Gaata Hoon,O Saki Saki etc

• Dev Kohli wrote songs for more than 100 hit films, like ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, ‘Baazigar’, ‘Judwaa 2’, ‘Musafir’, ‘Shoot Out at Lokhandwala’, and ‘Taxi Num 911’, among others.

• He also worked on many hits with music directors like Anu Malik, Raam Laxman, Anand Raaj Anand, Anand Milind and others.
• He last wrote songs for the Kangana Ranaut-starrer Rajjo, which had music by Uttam Singh.